Believe it or not, there are people out there who have never needed to conduct a formal job search. While there is a bit of luck involved, it’s the kind that you can create for yourself. By cultivating a reputation as a subject matter expert and remaining visible, decision makers will think of you when they have opportunities available.
This sounds more involved than it is. By doing a few things regularly (per week, month, etc. – whatever works for you), you’ll be well on your way to becoming known as a thought leader in a relatively short time. There are countless ways to do this, and the list below will help you get started.
1) Speaking: If you’re comfortable in front of a crowd, speaking is one of the best ways to show people you know what you’re talking about! Any event attended by people in your industry will work, and you don’t need to worry about finding opportunities – speakers are always in demand! Remember, you’ll likely be doing this for free, but you’ll reap bigger rewards throughout your career.
2) Blogging: Starting your own blog is one method, but commenting on others is fine, too. The idea is to share your expertise online, and in a forum where others in your industry will see what you have written.
3) Social Media: Any time you can share something of value, you’ll quickly and easily remind others of what you do (and do well!). Again, there are numerous ways to use this strategy, which could be as simple as regular status updates.
Even if you do need to actively search, your positive reputation will precede you and make the entire job hunt easier. Isn’t that alone worth investing a couple hours per month?
